Marking machine



Nov. 29, 1932. F. KoHNLE 1,889,250

MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet l QQ r QEQQQ QQQQ ,i QQQQQ QQQQQ Nov. 29, 1932. F. KoHNLE 1,889,250

MARKING MACHINE Filed* Feb. 3, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 29, 1932. F. KoHNLE f 1,889,250

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wx k lunowms Nov. 29, 1.932. F, KOHNLE 1,889,250

MARKING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 vwentoz Nov. 29, 1932. FQ KoHNLEA MARKING MACHINE Filed'Feb. 3. 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 C. O Lav H 0u o n 45.0

Noi'. 29, 1932. y|=', KQHLE I f 1,889,250.

MAR-Kinc- MACHINE F11-ve Feb; s; 195o 9 sums-sheet e NDV. 29, 1932. l F KOHNLE 1,889,250

MARKING laAcHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1930 9 sheets-sheet 7 ATTO R N EY l i v I h Nov. 29, 1932.

F. KoHNLE 1,889,250

MARKING vMAACIIINE Filed" Feb.` 3, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 s n ml gnvantoz Patented-Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED usm'rEs PATENT OFFICE l FREDERICK KOHNLE, F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE MONARCH MARKING SYSTEM COMPANY, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO eted gripped between jaws, the jaws operated by proved tag l head cut away 724-7, Figure 6,'illustratingthe tagstrip feed- MARKING `MAK'JHJN E applicatmnalea'rebruarj s, leso. serial No. 425,431.

` This invention relates to improvements in tag marking machines and particularly to mechanism for dispensinga marked tag or ticket' after'ithas been severed froma suply strip or appropriately serve the same or appllcation to the merchandise to be tick- An object of the invention is to provide atag marking machine with means adapted to grip or hold a tag at one edge while it is being severed from the supply strip and then pass the same to a devicefor .applying the tag to the merchandise."

Another object of the invention is to provide a tag marking. machine with a. reciprocating dispensing device wherein a tag is the .transmitting connections moving the dispenser whereby a gripping pressure is apy lied to the jaws when thedispenser moves vgorwardly` and the jaws released withy thev retreat stroke. y

Fui-theradvantages and features of the invention will. be more fully set forth in a description ofthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure. 1 is a top plan view of the im.v printing and applying machine, a portion .o 'the base thereof being broken away to illustrate the type drawer.

Figure 2 is.a front\view thereof. Figure 3 is an enlarged front view with thecover casings removed.

Figure 4 isa side or end view of the .mai

chine. y

Figure isa sectional 'view `taken online 54-5, Figure 4, illustrating 'a' portion .of the transmission in section, and the printing to lfurther illustrate the `meel anisms therebeneath. v Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on liney .6-6, Figure-5, illustrating the cam shaft ',-and its connection to h j 'the power shaft, and detailing the'ca-ms.- g V, l

Figure 7 is a-sectional viewl taken on line in ca m and'lever.

igure 8 is va"fragmentary front view of the machine, Lshowing. the staple clenching head intag'applying position,.and a portion crimping the .clip ofthe tag.

Figure 11 is a sectional/view taken on line 11.-11, `Figure 10, further detailing the die heady and crimping mechanism in its functloning position.

Figure 12 is a view taken onI iline 12-12,

- Figure5, but showing` the various levers of the machine in position correspondingtothe crimping position of the clenching head. Figure 13 is a side elevation of the knife and operating mechanism therefor.'

Figure 14 1s a sectional view taken on line 1li-14, Fi' re 5, illustrating the printing '7 head and p aten.

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on line 15-15, Figure 3, detailing the construction of the slide clamping head forgrippingiand advancing a tag to the tag applying device.l

Figure .16 is a' bottom' plan view of the E slide clampinghead.

' Figure 17 s a sectional view on the line 174-17 of Fi re 15, with parts in elevation. vFigure 18 1s a perspective view of the/tag strip feeding and inking slide pad relative to its oslideways.

Figure 19 is a sectional view taken online 19.-19, Figure 18 illustrating the cushion mountlng o f the feeding finger-relative4 to the slide.

Figure 20 isa sectional view taken on line 20-20, Figure. 5`k detailingthe construction ofxthereciprocating die head and plunger.

Referringto the drawings, 1 indicates the base of thefmachine of Lv-form having an exfrom the strip. after the vofithe supporting frame therefor in section -Y trexnity arranged in a box-like casing 2 pro.- viding a support` for an electric motor 3. The

electric. connections for the motor, including' an electric controlling switch, are hhsed with the casing, and' a hand lever ,of the switch extends through the front wall of the casing as shown in Figure 2. The motor shaft 4 as shown in Figure 5 connects with a worm shaft 5 through 'a flexible cou ling 6 and shaft 5 is suitably journalled in arings in a journal bracket 7 mounted upon the base 1. A worm of the worm shaft ism mesh with a worm wheel 8 fixed upona shaft journalled in the journal bracket 7. The

worm shaft 5 is' journalled in an efid thrust ball bearing. The journal bracket is of-a construction enabling 'the worm and worm wheel to run in a lubricant,

A shaft 10 coaxial with the worm wheel l shaft 9 is journalled in bearings inthe casing 11 of-thetag printing and ticketing mechanism and is adapted to be cou led. or clutched to shaft 9 for a single cyc e: The coupling mechanism, comprises, a ratchet 12 fixed uponthe shaft 9 and a hirbbed clutch disc 13 pinned to the shaftl 10 and abuttingly adjacent the ratchet 12. The disc carries a spring-pressed pawl 14 having engagement with the teeth of the ratchet, and when engaged, therewith, rotatively connectsv shafts 9 and 10. The disc is provided with a radial slot 15 through which a `pin 16. fixed u on the pawl 14 extends.l The pin is adapte to be engaged byv a lever arm 17 pivoted `at 18 within the base 1 of the machine, and/the lever arm 17 is arranged to swing toward and from the disc,\and when in a perpendicular position is adapted to engage with the laterally extending pin'V 16 in the rotation of the disc to force the pawl out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet.

The upper end of the lever arm 17 is bevelled or inclined to serve as a cam for engagement with the pin of the pawl 14 forcing' the pawl outwardly with the'rotationof the disoand thereby dlsengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel at H the end of an operating.

cycle. To release the pawl the lever arm 17 is swung laterallyl by depressin either one of a pair of control r ds 19 slida ly sup orted and positioned a opposite sides Y`o the clenching mechanism, accessible to the o eratorwhile holdin the material to be tic {eted upon the clenc ing mechanism and in 1pcsition to receive the price markedwtag. he pontrol rods 19, each has its upper end provided with a button 20 and its opposite end `'engages with a spring tensioned arm 21 connecting with the lever arm 17. For a single cycle control, the operator momentarily depress'es one of the control rods to release the arm 17 vwhereupon the arm immediately 'snaps back ijnto osition ready to trip the pawl at the end o4 the cycle. For continuous operation, the operator holds the cotrol rod depressed for a eriod desired'.

The ticketfeeding an printing mechanism is similar tothat disclosed in a prior patentA issued to-me April 16, 1929-, No. 1,709,354, .for tag price marking machines. The maythe wire staple through the and in relationy to severing mechanism for4 cutting and delivering a printed or price marked tag from the strip.

'ils

In the present invention thetag after it has been severed from the strip is passed or dispensed transversely of the strip` appropriately over clenching mechanism for driving foods to 4be ticketthe ends thereof. y

igures 5, Gand 8 of the ed and cleichin Referring to drawings, 22indicates a pedestal fixed upon the base '1, with the head of the pedestal in the form of a table 2S for` supporting the tag stri `24. The tablel is loiigitudinally slotted or c anneled -to ,receive and track the depend- A ing prongs of the metallic fasteners or staples 25 with which each tag of the strip is provided.

The strip is a commercial product of cardboard material Ahaving definitely spaced notches cut inward from one longitudinal edge thereof, each to be successively engaged by a feed finger 26, reciprocating' with a slide or carriage 27. The feed finger 26 is pivotally mounted andfyieidingly depressed within the forked `or slotted lower side of`a spring y'pressed plunger 28- slidably mounted within a holder 29, (see Figures 18 and 19k) fixedupon the carriage. The forward end ofthe ,finger is appropriately shaped to engage into 'a notch of the tag strip with the forward stroke of the `carriage for advancing the strip awdetermined or measured 'degree moving a foremost 'tag of the strip beneath the finger moves with the carriage until the forward end engages against a rigid stop, which constitutes a knife or movable cutter die for severing the" tags from the l strip. The plunger is yieldingly engaged within the holder to accommodate for carriage movement to the end of its stroke and forany increment .carriage movement over'that of rintingI mechanism for printingthe 'pri' e marking or other data' thereon. -The I the finger after the finger is engaged with the abutment. The fingen advancing movement is 'thus definitely arrested for limiting the advancing motion of the strip and bringing a notch thereof successively into positive registration and alignment with the cutter or cutting dies, the dies cutting across the strip cam wheel 33 fixed tothe shaft 10 (see Fig? continuous with the notches inisevering the tagffrom the strip. l he front end of the finger and the rear end of the movable cutter or die are of a construction which will permit the notch engaging end of the finger to pass beneath the die wlth the butt end of the finger engaged against the side of the die, the die having its cutting edge forward yof the point of finger engagement.

rlhe carriageslidesupon an angle guide plate 30 fixed to the pedestal at the rear side of the table and a horizontal portion of the plate overlies the table 'adaptin the carria e to be guidingly sustained over t 1e table. Te carriage is reciprocated by a lever 3l havin its upper end forked to engage with a heade pin 32 fixed to and extending from the-side of the carriage and the lever 31 intermedially is `provided with a lateral extending roller engaging in the cam groove in the side of a ures 7 and 8). In'each advancing step of the tag strip, the foremost tag of thefstrip is moved to a positiony to be severed 4from the strip by a movable die blade 34 extending crosswise of the strip and fixed upon the upper end of a lever 35 pivoted to the pedestal or forward end of the table with the opposite end of the lever having a lateral eXtension 36 carrying a roller engaging with the cam formed on the outer side of the cam wheel 33 fixed to the shaft l0. The lever is yieldingly held against the cam by a spring.

The movable die blade cooperates with the stationary die mounted within the table providing a die slot. rlhev forward end of the die blade is provided with a depending tongue beyond the width of the tag strip which is always engaged with the die slot for maintaining the alignment and registration of the movable die with the stationary die. The swinging motion ofthe movable die produces a shear action across the tag strip.

in Figure 13 the movable cutter is shown in its normal rest position with its cutting edge above the plane of the tag strip but in a position to be engaged by the forward or butt end of the feed finger. At the time the foremost tag is severed from the strip a second or succeeding tag is in position over a` printing platen 38 recessed within the table and beneath the type carrying or printing head 39 ofthe printing mechanism. The rinting head is formed on the end of an over anging portion of a lever 40 suitably fulcrumed upon a forwardly extending bracket arm of the pedestal with the lower end ofthe lever engaging into a peripheral cam groovel d1 ofy the cam wheel 33. The printing'head is arranged to receive and sustain a removableV type base lf2. rThe cam wheel for actuating the printing mechanism has its cam groove of a pattern to actuate the printing head twice in relatively varying degrees in each revolution ofthe cam wheel. The printing head is first moved downwardly for an impression stroke to print upon the foremost tag of the stri this operation taking place in advance of t e strip feeding whereupon the printing head is again brought down but to a lesser degree to impress upon an inking pad 43 mounted ina forward position upon the carriage and after the pad has been moved with the carriage to the forward end of its stroke r bringing the pad beneath the the carriage at the forward en dwells for a slightl period so that the pad is printing head,

of the stroke:

at rest when engaged by the type of the printv wise rubbing action between the pad and type face.` The. relative timing of the various parts for each operating cycle is so arran ed that the lforemost tag of the'l strip is rst printed upon and then advanced or moved to aI position to sever it from the strip and issue the same from the machine.

The machine is primarily adapted for handling price tags possessing a staple for attaching the tag to the goodsto be ticketed, the staple having a pair of prongs extending from the underside of the tag which are pressed through the goods and then clenched over against the'underside of the goods. The tags respectively, with the advance of the strip, as they leave the printing or price marking station, move into engagement with a gripper to hold the tag after it has been severed from the strip in an outstanding or projected position for dispensing or deliveryover a clenching block for attaching the tag to the goods. In the present instance, the gripper' engages the top edge of the ta and reciprocates transversely to the strip or 1n a direction at right angles to that of which it was delivered to the gripper for moving the ticket outward from the table in an appropriate position with the prongs over the' clenching mechanism. The clenching mechanism moves upwardly to force the goods over the prongs of the staple and clench the prongs against the underside of the 'rethe goods. The gripper holds and sustains the tag in a horizontally projected position vbeing fixed to the pedestal 22.

The lower side of the gripper block 44: is grooved or channeled for receivin and recessing a. swinging spring-presse gripper I in the side walls 49 ofthe channel. The

'aw 47 swinging within the channel of the lock and pivoted by a pin 48 engaging withgl'lP' per block is shown as of sectional form for convenience in manufacture.

The jaw is normally depressed by a sprin 50 (see Figure 15) against a pair of space stationary jaws or tongues 51-51 extendin from the forward end of the gripper bloc and integral with the ,walls forming the channel. The swinging jaw 47, centrally, is provided with a guide tongue 52 and copperates with the stationary jaws for rcceivmg the tag as it" is advanced by tle movement of the strip. The tongues at their approach side are bevelled or inclined to guide the tag upon the upper side of the tongues as the tag is being moved into position within the gripper and between the movable and stationary jaws. The underside of the movable jaw for its full width is provided with a roove 53 as a clearance for the head or cross ar of the staple on the face side of the tag. The jaws grasp the marginal edge of the tag between the line of staple and edge of the tag, thus clearing the staple so that the prongs of the staple do not interfere with the feed of the tag between the jaws of the gripper and are positionedadjacent the ends of a swinging .guard beneath the ljaws of the gripper and' sustain the` prongs against displacement during the process of applying the goods to the sta le.

he guard constitutes a swinging arm 54 lying within the channel of the gripper block and pivoted thereto at a point rearward of thclswinging jaw as shown in Figure 15. The

arm thus is spring-pressed downwardly so that its forward end is directed about midway of the length of the prongs and the-forward end of the arm is forked so as to :traddle the guide tongue 52 depending from the movable jaw and allow the guard arm to be swung into alignment with the lower jaws 51 under the pressure of the clinching mechamsm.

The guide tongue on the movable "aw, the stationary jaws and the forward en s of the guard arm are approximately of the same thickness and correspond to the gauge of the wire of the staple so as not to form any obstruction 'rvinterfere with the proper application of the tag to the goods and the degree of clinching of the prongs.

' The gripper is disposed immediately adjacent the cutter so that no additional feed motion is required to fully position the tag within the grlpper. The tag is firmly gripped between the jaws preferably during the severing operation so as to be firmly held `by the gripper when the tag is severed from the strip. Pres-tureL is applied uponlthe movable jaw by lever devices connecting with the gri per block for reciprocating the same.

) lever 54 is pivoted within the forward end of the gripper block 44 and has its lower end inclined to clear the movable `j aw 47 Awhen the lever is swung to'a retracted position, during the period when the tag is fed between the jaws or whenthe gripper mechj anism is in an idle position.

' In the active position of the lever 54,

upper side of the movable jaw or depressing the jaw to bring a clampin pressure u on.

the tag between the jaws. T e u per en of the lever 54'?L is'forked and pivotally connects with a sectional connecting 'link 55. The sections of the link 55 are telescopically joined with a s ring l56 interposed .between the/sections renc ering the link yieldingly extensible to accommodate for variations in tag thickness and for any overthrow motion in the lever mechanism for reciprocating the gripper.

lThe opposite end of the sectional connecting link is pivotally connected to the upper end of a lever 57 swin ing upon a fulcrum 58 fixed into the side ofg the pedestal and extended through the bracket 47 supporting the gripper or dispensing mechanism. Thelever 57 is providedwith a laterally extended pin 59 extending into a cam roove 60 of a cam wheel 37 Fixed upon the saft 10 of the portion of the shaft extending through and journalled in the pedestal.

In the forward stroke of the lever mechanism, the lever 54l is initially moved to compress the jaws, impinging a tag therebetween, whereupon through the continued motion of the lever mechanism, motion 'is imparted tol the gripper block to move the same forward, bringing the-sustained tag1 over the clinching mechanlsm for securing t e tag to the goods.

A rcturn stroke of the lever mechanism releases the gripping pressure of the jaws, the lever 54a is swung to a retracted position by engaging with the gripper block which limits its motion and stabilizes the connection between the connecting link and lever so that .the jaws are released and remain released until the parts are againI moved forward.

The staple clinching vmechanism is of a commercial type analogous to that disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,171,729, dated February 15, 1916, and comprises a tubular plunger 62 slidably mounted within a bore of a forward extension of the rear bracket 47. The

lower end of the plunger 62 isnotched to re' ceive the forward end of an actuating lever 63 as shownin Figure 12, the lever 63 swinging upon a fulcrum'64 supported within the pedestal and bracket.

The rear end of the lever is provided with a roller 65 engaging upon the periphery of the cam wheel 33, the cam wheel upon its periphery being provided with a radial cam 66 appropriately for liftingthe lunger 62.

- 75 suiiiciently to apply the necessary upwai" `vstem bearing against a spring `69housed and supported within the plunger, Thest'em of Ay clenching ahead 67 yiel ingly connects with the plunger 62 by means of'a Cstem 68 integral with the'head and` telescopcally en gaged into the plunger, the lower end of the the plunger headis locked agai st rotative motion by a key 70 fixed to the plungenand extending into a notch 7 (see Figure 10) of the stem. 6 A

.The head is slotted diametrically and p'rovided with a pair of oppositely disposed ivotally mounted within the slot of the head and fulcruined to'- swing upwardly toward each other, each to bend or clench a staple prong against the goods as shown in Figure 11.'-

The clenching dogs are.` actuated shaped plate 73 slidably mounted within the slot of the head beneath the dogs and engaged by a collar 7 4 slidable upon the stem 68. The collar in turn is engaged by aspring'75 inter'ose'd between the collar and the upper end? of the plunger 62.

In an' upward movement of the pluri er with thegoods to be ticketed spotted over t e head, thel tag held bythe gripper with its staple prongs extending in a. perpendicular position over the clenchingdogs which are in an open or receded position belowT the-plane' ofthe head, the'material'is-pushed over the prongs until the upward movement ofthe ead is .arrested by contact ith the projectin ends of th ,movablegr pper jaw held loc ed by ,the lever. The plunger continuesI its upward motion, compressing the spring pressure against the collar and T plate, fore-"-y ing the clenching dogs upward tp clenchthe' staple prongs.

The upper surfaces of the clenching-fdogs are curved for directing the points ofthe prongs intothe goods. f The yielding connfefetion between the stempf the ead and'pliinger compensates for the additional movement of the plunger after the head is arrested "andn maintains the head compressibly againstthe goods and tag while the staples are being clenched. i j The machine normally is at rest ,withV ticket feeding carriage at its foremost poeltion theinking pad :beneath the printinghea the printing head in a retracted on lifted position clear of the inkingpa'dfan tion ofthe driving shaft. Upon tripping "the clutch the dispensing device is moved, vfoi'.-

` fward `and' the 'carriage retreated, both kcarriage and dispenser dwelling at the end ofthe stroke, `the one for providing an interval .for the printing headto descend andmake animas to receive a ticket wit the forward movement of the carriage. The carriage'follows moving forward and comes to rest allowing the printing head to descend for pressin its type upon the pad and again retreat be 4ore the clutch is automatically tripped at tl'ie end 0f the cycle to cut off the power. The machinel is capablefof operating atl high speeds. The operation is momentary from the timel the o erator depresses the clutch control for app ying a tag. Having described my invention, I claim: l. A machine for successively cutting marking tags from a. strip and. individually dispensing the tags as severed, comprising,

strip, successively cutting the-tags front the strip, holding each tag as it'is being severed from the strip, andldispensing thesame, comprising, a movablemember, cooperating jaws carried byv said member for receiving and gripping an edge ofthetag therebetween transmission means for moving V ember-f in alternate directions cooperating th said jaws forapplying a gripping pressure thereto-iii a forward motion of the transmission means ti'eat'motion.4 j.

3'; 'In a machine4 for sucessively. cutting andlrelease the jaws aj vre-4 l the tags from the strip, the'tags each provid@ ed with an attaching device having pins pron jecting from .one face ofthe tag, comprising 1 1amovable member,cooperating jaws carriel by saidv member foi-receivingand gripping an edge of the tag therebetween, with .the pins of the tags `depending therefrom, a guardl "swinging Jlternate direotionsl'coopcrating with` said A .Y jaws for applying agripping pressure thereo in Aa 'forwardmotxonsof the-transmission. means and releasethe jaws ina retreat mo- 't-ion.. f3 fieifn 4.- In a machine "forsuccessively cutting tags from thelstrip, comprising, a movable member, 'cooperating'-jaws carried by said member for receiving and gripping an edge of @lo tag therebetween, transmission means for lo ving said member in `alternate directions'cooperating with said jaws-for applying Below `the jaws for enga ement lwith the p ins to stabilizethe' same, an transl mission means for -movii'ig,sa idv member j in a gripping pressure thereto lin a forward motion ofthe transmisison means and release `the jaws in a retreat motion,.and an attaching device cooperating with one of aid jaws, for securing the tag to merchanise.

5 In a inachine'for operating upon a tag strip, tag strip feeding mechanism for advancing the strip and successively bringing 10 the foremost tag' thereof to a position f or severing from the strip, a reciprocating grlp- ,per device engaging the foremost tag at anl edge thereof sustaining it While being severed from the strip, and subsequently carrying the severed tag to a position outwardly aside from the strip.

' 6. In a machine for operating upona tag strip,l tag attaching mechanism, tag strip feeding mechanism for advancing the strip and successively bringing the foremost tag thereof to a position for severing from tlie strip, a reciprocating gripperdevice'engaging the foremost tag atan edge thereof sustaining it while being severed from the strip,

and subsequently carrying the severed tag to a position outwardly aside from the strip, I holding the same in an extended positi'onover the mechanism for attaching the tag to the merchandise to be ticketed, and said gripper device adapted to cooperate with the attaching mechanism for clenchingthe fastener staple of the tag securing the tag. to the mcrchan'dise.

7. In a' machine for operating upon a tag strip, tag strip feeding mechanism, fon advancing thefstrip and successively bringing i the foremost tag thereof to a position for severing from the strip, a reciprocating device engaging the foremost tag at an edge there- 40 lof for carrying the tag when severed from the strip, to'an' egrtended position-outwardly aside from the strip. 8. In a machinle forfoperating upon a tag strip,- tag strip feeding mechanism, for ad- ;4fl' vancing the strip and successively bringing the foremost tag thereof to aA position for severing from Lthe strip, a reciprocating device having a. throat fo engaging the fore- .most tag at an edge' t ereof sustaining it 50 while being severed from the strip, and subsequently carrying the severed tag to a position outwardly aside from the strip, and a depressible finger, mounted upon saiddevice Jfor engagement with pins extending later-4 55, ally from the underside of the tag to sustain the pins in their perpendicular position, preliminary to elinching the pins in the application. -f

In witness whereof, I hereunto-subscribe c3 my name.

FREDERICK KOI-INLE. 

